Just wondering, how many of you opted for the prepay maintanence plan from MB when getting your car?

 

When I bought my car I did not buy the maintenance package because at nearly $2000 it sounds a bit high for a 4 year 50 000 mile plan. After reading maintenance requirement booklet at home decided to go and get the maintenance plan for $2000 to cover the 4 year 50000 mile warranty period.

What triggered me to go for it is the requirement of replacing brake fluid at every 20000 miles. I don't have means to do that nor do I want some non-MB service to do it. Brakes in these cars are not to be just worked with.

Now, this is the best part of it. I went to my dealer and was directed by my sales guy to go talk with the service manager about purchasing the service plan. I told him that I want to get the $2000 plan for 50000 miles and he said "You don't want to do that!". He said I need to get 3 year 30000 mile plan for $770 (or something like that. Then pay separately for the following services. It saves money this way.

The A servive cost I think he said is like $200 and the B service (includes that brake fluid change) runs about $450. This way 4 year 50000 mile service cost is around $1420, i.e. you save around @550-$600 (don't remember exact amounts).

The story above, which is very true, tells some other thing that I like very much about my dealer. I don't know how many MB or other dealers stop a customer from spending money with them especially when a customer comes in and tells them of his desire to do so. This dealer would be about $550 richer now and I would not be even mad about it. The service manager in my case already sold me their next car. It will be a couple of years but I will go back to this dealer and get my next car from them.

When you think about it a couple of thousands of $ do not really mean that much. If it does they you should not be driving a car like this. But what really matters to me is the honesty. At my dealer the sales guy, service manager, service guy and even the service technician have shown to be real professionals and truly honest with anything relating to me and my car. I also, like most people, care about where my money goes and when driving a luxury car like this my money goes to Mercedes Benz and NEVER AGAIN to Audi. Audi people don'd know what honesty means, like, by my experience, Chevrolet dealer in my area don't either.

 

maybe the dealer actually realized that 550 would be better earned over the career with you as a customer........smart not to nickle and dime sometimes

 

I purchased the 3 year plan. One of the things that appealed to me with the plan is that you can go to any Mercedes dealer with it. I purchased my 2011 E550 at a dealer about 1.5 hours away. My 2008 S550 was purchased from the local dealer. The local dealer charges up to double what the other dealer does for the same service. He wanted $900 for the 20,000 mile service on my 2008 S550. I took it to the dealer 1.5 hours away, and he charged $450. I hate to get ripped off for any amount. With the pre-paid plan I can take the car to the local dealer, and he can take the loss.

 

My dealer in NJ told me basically the same thing that Arrie's dealer told him. I assumed it would be sensible to buy the 5 year plan but after the Service Manager and Salesman explained it, I also opted for the 3 Year/30,000 Plan. I think it was about $760.
Most dealers figure, if you can sell the customer an unneeded hot stove, why not.
I was rather surprised but, much appreciated the honesty also.

 

No, he can take less profit...he aint losing money servicing your car.

 

I also opted for the 3 year plan. I was hesitating a bit but my dealer (finance officer) offered it to me for $600 so I took it, he also said about 95% take the offer, just wondering if he was giving me a sales pitch or if everyone really is getting the pre-paid/discounted service plans. Thanks for your replies.

 

Yes, loss of undeserved profit.

 

I took the three year pre-paid primarily because I expect both MB and dealers to raise prices over the next three years. Supposedly it saves the cost of the third service. Dealer rep said very few people get the 4 or more years as the price jumps substantially and they may not keep car till 4 years is due.
Another reason for getting pre-paid is that I will be taking to dealer until warranty expires so there will no quibbling over warranty issues.
BTW, there ain't no free lunches! BMW and others include maintenance in cost of car or lease price. Pay for it now or pay for it later, but the consumer pays.

 

The dealer finance manager suggested that plan when I bought 2011 E350. He showed edmonds.com survey what people usually paid in 4 years to own MB. It was about $4500. He said I will only pay around $59/month for 5 yr loan term. I figured it might be a good idea since the total $3600 is less than $4500. That option includes service A,B and C. Also include brake service and tires replacement. I thought it was good plan so signed. Later, I figured out my car might need service A, B,C in 4 yrs but not possible to get a chance for brake and tires service within 4 yrs since this car will be my 2nd weekend-only vehicle. The total of service A, B, C gonna be way less than $3500 in 4 yr contract. I cancelled it 2 days later and they credited that amount onto my finance total. Beware!

 

Picked up my 2011 E350 Bluetec yesterday and got the pitch from the finance manager on the prepaid maintenance packages. He walked me up to the 5 year deal @ $3000 for the Bluetec. When I asked them for details on the costs for each service today's dollars he either couldn't or wouldn't tell me. I walked away from the package as I couldn't get the math to see if it was a good deal or not....frustrated.

Since I have the first year to decide I'm looking for additional information to make a well informed decision. Has anyone already done the math with good numbs or completed A /B / C service for a Bluetec model?

Thanks

 

I think service plan pricing is the same way for diesel and gas versions. 5 year plan for my gasoline 350 would have cost about $2000, but a 3 year 30 000 mile plan only about $760. I think there must be some kind of lower cost 3 year plan for diesels too.

See my post earlier in this chain.

 

3 year on BlueTec is around $1600 because of AdBlue and fuel filters.

 

Thank you, that is the number I am looking for. Do you know what the breakdown is for A / B / C services?

 

Not sure exactly but from what we've been able to determine, they're around $465, $955, and $465.

 

South Georgia fir the nex few months and then to Los Angles mid summer. Sure costs will be higher in SoCal.

 

hmm
so no one gets the 50,000 miles prepaid service plan?
i have not decided on which plan to get yet
the service manager told me the 4th service costs about $950+ (i need to check the paper where he wrote down the prices)
so it's not just service A and B being rotated
the 4th service includes more stuff

now the prepaid 50,000 mile plan (the $2000 plan) was just a bit cheaper than the total of the services paid separately (at sale prices)
but the thing is those prices could go up ... so locking in the prices and not relying on service specials or coupons could be a smart move
anyway
i am still doing research on this
if anyone has any input, please contribute

 

I did not go with any prepaid maintenance plan for my 2010 E550.

My dealer had damaged my E320 on prior services and recommended replacing parts that were in good shape.

I do the A & B services myself (quite easy to do, order the parts online) and found a MB Master Guild Technician locally who can do the bigger things (ie. brake fluid/pads, transmission service, coolant flush, belts, spark plugs, etc.).

E class needs relatively little service until 40K (which is the 4th service you refer to), when you need to service transmission and change engine air filters.

 

how do you reset the service indicator if you do it yourself

 

This is actually very easy to do by yourself.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ice-reset.html

 

thanks

wow those instructions look really complicated

 

I went with the pre-paid 3 year plan because I will let dealer do all work while under warranty. Read through the Operators Manual and Maintenance booklet and you will see lots and lots of entries where M-B will void warranty if work not done to their standard, which probably means by an M-B dealer.
Not worth the risk to me to do it myself or at independent. Also, the service due resetting appears way too complicated. M-B should tie it to mileage only as other vehicles do and not date or mileage.
However, since I do not drive many miles, will wait until car has close to 40,000 miles before actually getting the "D" service. Will get dealer or indpendent to change oil and filter annually and reset reminder until then.

 

I agree

Once you try service reset, you will find it is easy

Also let's you go into dynamometer mode (ie. full performance of W212 without ABS or traction control - be careful!)

 

Which dealer gave u the offer? Did they offer u when u bought the car or after that? I'm looking for but it before my first service. That is a very good price for the service. Can u give me more detail about it? Thanks in advance!

 

I took the 3-yr plan as it only cost less than $10 more a month added to my lease payment. Less than $330.